Well if this isn't the best picture I've ever taken of the coop ❄️🩵❄️

[Mother of Chaos]

- and yes, I may need to visit again! It's a hella long haul from where we live (eastern US), but I think it would be worth it...

When does it start feeling like spring again? I'm a geriatric college senior, hoping to graduate before I die, and my fall 2026 classes begin in mid-August.

 

[Chookwagn]

Are you North or South? I may have read this before, and if so, I apologize for forgetting.

The two islands seem so very different, geographically and culturally,

South Island (the mainland )

Yes and even east to west sides of the south are very different geographically
West coast of south island gets between 3 - 6 meters of rainfall per year and 3 hours away on the east coast we get 600mm (not sure what it is in inches)

 

[Chookwagn]

South Island (the mainland )

Yes and even east to west sides of the south are very different geographically
West coast of south island gets between 3 - 6 meters of rainfall per year and 3 hours away on the east coast we get 600mm (not sure what it is in inches)

3m = 118 inches
600mm = about 24 inches

 

[Mother of Chaos]

3m = 118 inches
600mm = about 24 inches

aka, not very much, compared to the west! That was kind of the feeling that I got when I was there. Christchurch seemed green in a very England-y, no nonsense way. Swans on the Avon, manicured gardens everywhere, the lovely Cathedral. Not at all jungley.

It was much the same in Hawai'i, although opposite coasts (prevailing tradewinds) - east of the Koolau range (windward) was wet, wet, wet, while the west (leeward) was often very dry (in the rain shadow.)

 

[Chookwagn]

aka, not very much, compared to the west! That was kind of the feeling that I got when I was there. Christchurch seemed green in a very England-y, no nonsense way. Swans on the Avon, manicured gardens everywhere, the lovely Cathedral. Not at all jungley.

Yep you got it